Standing on The Stages of Life

As a child, I always dreamed of being an entertainer. Hell, I even believed it for the majority of my adolescence.

Did I actually work towards my dreams? Like setting goals and all that shit, nope…

My teens and 20s we’re busy chasing the seat at the end of the bar to drink whiskey and talk about all the things “I was gonna do.”

But in spite of that, I always had it deep within me that I would be entertaining. All my jobs had other staff members and manager telling me, “you should be on radio, you could be a comedian, or you’d be a great actor.”

I’d smile in sadness and say, “Ya, I know right?”

Navigating the endless waves of disappointment that alcoholism has to offer was what I would be resigned to, never being able to step on that stage I so desperately desired (and was gifted with abilities to do).

Once I sobered up and changed my nasty ass behavior, who I actually was began to surface again after being dormant due to spiritual sickness.

What will I do with this new found lottery ticket of life?

Go into the restaurant world, that’s what! haha

The real island of misfit toys where “has beens,” “could’ve beens,” and “never was” type peeps go to make a buck in the midst of madness and chaos.

I thrived :-) (no booze just chaos!)

I built a solid foundation in a playground of developing my leadership skills, presenting skills, speaking skills, facilitating skills, and essentially “putting on a show” 7 days a week entertaining people in my restaurant.

I did it, and did it well.

Then I transferred into this wild world of Internet Marketing and Entrepreneurs with the likes of Kevin Rogers. The dude knows a thing or two about comedy and being on stage. A match made in heaven buddy!

We started this Man in the Middle Show. Now in Season 2.

I listened to our second episode here about childhood dreams and this is the learning I had come up for me today from it:

All my gifts from childhood are now serving me well in my stages of life…

Not childhood stage, early 20s stage, middle age, old age, etc. NOT those stages.

These stages, the ones I stand on now:

Leading a family - Leading teams - Entertaining guests in my home - Being an committed friend - Honoring my duty as a son and brother - and the list goes on!

Because here’s the thing…

In those moments, I have an audience.

And for years I performed the way I thought everyone wanted me to, not as I am. In Jungian work we call these “masks.”

So what has Midlife work taught me about standing on these stages in every facet of my life?

That the meaning and depth of the performance is rooted in my ability to fully show up as myself. No performance boys and girls, just me.

And what a show that is. What fun that is. What a gift that is.

So I’ve now gone back and answered the call of that child through my actions by using my gifts to be me.

And it reminds me of one my favorite Carl Jung quotes, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”

Five year old me would be smiling, because I’m actually doing it.

Cheers,

Joe

P.S. Having a sarcastic mother is a blessing and a curse. One time she said that her and my father were going to start calling me “I’m Gonna.” Because all I ever do is say, “I’m gonna do this and I’m gonna do that,” and you don’t ever do shit. Thanks Mom!